Ask Nathan Campbell what he loves best about his job, and the Manheim Central High School Spanish teacher doesn't hesitate to answer.

"It's the students," he said. "I'm passionate about language, but at the end of the day, most of the kids in my classes are not going to master the language. For me, the most important thing is I want every kid to have an appreciation for the 'other.' I want them to know that 'different' is not the same as 'weird.' ... Difference is something that should be celebrated, not tolerated. I want my students to feel cared for, to feel welcome in my classroom. I found my identity in world language. That became my home, my place, and I want my classroom to be the same for my students."

Nathan's passion for teaching stands out - and now he's been recognized on a national level. In mid-November, Nathan became the first Pennsylvania teacher to earn the title of National Foreign Language Teacher of the Year through the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The 2026 honor, which Nathan received at a ceremony in New Orleans, took several years to achieve.

He was nominated for Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association Teacher of the Year for 2024, a title he won in November of that year. He then competed at the regional level, besting teachers from 13 states to take home the title of 2025 Northeast Conference (NECTFL) Teacher of the Year in New York City this past February. From there, he competed at the national convention in New Orleans.

"Each phase expands in terms of what is required for the competition," Nathan said, noting that he had to put together a comprehensive portfolio that included a 20-minute video of himself teaching his classes.

At the convention, which was attend by 10,000 teachers from across the United States as well as several other countries, Nathan sat for a 40-minute interview and presented a seven-minute policy speech. His speech focused on the power of multilingualism and its ability to open doors by promoting everything from positive economic trends to democracy.

He thought he did well at the competition, but he wasn't sure what to expect when the winners were announced.

"It was honor just to be a finalist," he said. "When I met everybody I was competing with, I thought, 'These are amazing educators.'"

He recalled that waiting to hear the winner announced felt a bit like what he imagines the anticipation prior to winning an Oscar might be like.

"Honestly, it felt like I was up for an Academy Award," he said. "They played videos announcing each of us one by one. All five of us got our moment on stage, and then we sat down in the front row. Cameras were on us the whole time. The head of the committee comes out with a trophy and literally opens an envelope to reveal the winner."

Nathan's reaction to hearing his name called as 2026 Teacher of the Year? "I was very shocked to win," he said. "It was the most celebratory moment I've ever felt." Throughout the rest of the convention, Nathan felt like a celebrity, as people asked him for autographs and to take selfies with them.

During his reign as Teacher of the Year, Nathan will serve as a national spokesperson for the language profession; attend all five regional conferences; and travel to Washington, D.C., for a joint national committee for language meeting and to celebrate World Language Day.

He'll present sessions at each of the conferences and will serve as a keynote speaker for some, most likely speaking on community engagement and language.

Among his students at Manheim Central, Nathan is well-loved. He tries to infuse his lessons with a mix of fun, encouraging all of his students to complete portfolios and projects that connect classroom learning with real-world experiences. Students might visit a Mexican restaurant, engage in conversation in their server's native language and reflect on the business' impact in their community. Students might also take Latino dance lessons, learning salsa or tango, before writing a reflective piece on their experience.

"My favorite field trip we do is with the Spanish Club in May," Nathan said. "We travel to SACA (Spanish American Civic Association) in Lancaster city, where we spend time with the seniors at the center, playing dominoes, bingo or other games and engaging with the seniors. A lot of them don't speak English very well or even at all, so it's mutually beneficial for the seniors and the students."

Nathan lives in Manheim with his wife, Jennifer (also a language teacher at Manheim Central), and their two children, Nora and Lucas.

He's looking forward to serving as Teacher of the Year, using his platform to advance the need for more language teachers.

"We have fewer world language teachers in the state of PA than we've ever had," he said. "I want to try to pull people into this field."

He also wants to promote the importance of language.

"I want to advocate for more language programs everywhere," he said. "I want to underscore how multilingualism is not a luxury; it's a necessity. We need it if we want to be competitive in a global marketplace."